The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-08-04
JANIES'S WIFE.

One sultry summer day l sat with my
mothers friend, Mrs. Benton, upon the
piazza at her country home. l had
been frequent guest at the old farm
house since my childhood. and the echo
of voices seemed to linger in the large
rooms thad had once resounded with
our merry shouts. The familiar sur
roundings of the old fashioned home
seemed to make impossible the years
that had passed. The quaint furnish
ings Of the house remained unchanged;
the flowers that bordered the walk held
their place; bachelors buttons, mari
Colds, sweet williams and tiger lilies,
as in years before, bloomed to the
apparent satisfaction of the inmates OF
the old home. A large family had been
reared under the roof-tree, but one by
one the children had forsaken the home
nest until but one son remained there.
The father and mother though long
past the prime of life retained much OF
the energy and strength of earlier years
and the routine of labor within and
without reyolved in channels made
smooth by the gentle friction of half a
century. The marriage of James, the
son Of their later years, disturbed the
current Of their life. knew that the
young wife had been reluctantly re-
ceived into the family.
As the daughter sat by my side that
afternoon. watched the busy fingers,
and tried to read in the quiet face the
chances for harmony and happiness.
Had she counted the cost? Could she
in her youth and inexperience. under
stand the difficulties of her position?
The habits of lifetime would not
easily change; she must conform to
the rigid customs of the family, and
learn to tread with even pace the well
worn path.
Would she do this, or had she come
to SOW discord between mother and son:
to disquiet the declining years Of the
aged parents? l could not read the
face that bent sointently over the work
but my questions We're not long I'M
answered. The oppressive heat wa.
moderated presently by rising breeze.
had scarcely noticed the
change in temperature when the
Young wife hastily entered the
house. Returning presently with q
light wrap. she folded it CAREFUL,
around Mrs. Benton, saying, Il feal
you will take cold. mother.
Mrs. Benton's thanks were scarccl,
spoken before the daughter again Ell
tered the house, giving opportunity fol
the expression of the content and APP
proval had already read in the care
worn face.
That's just the way Jenny takes
care Of me; do You know how pleasant
it is to be taken care OPP
Il have known" replied.
Yes assented Mrs. Benton. ..
suppose your mother took care Of yol
just as I've always taken care of m,
girls; I'm afraid / don't bring 'em "
right; they amt bit like Jenny. She.
always thinking about other folks; dc
believe the child forgets Jenny Benton
Father and | dreaded her coming, ant
if it hadn't been for James, we shouldn'
have consented. I've seen how sons
wives upset things; you knew we ha,
Abner's wife here a spell; brace,
myself up,expecting all sorts of trials
but Jenny is so different from the res
Of EN-. Nothing was good enough fol
Abners wife when she was here. Sh,
took the best room in the house, ant
kept all her things in it, and Abner
too, as much as she could. Now Jenn,
wants us to enjoy everything with her
Did yon notice that pretty lamp in tn
sitting room? That's Jenny's, and j
almost seems as if it has brought bacl
my sight; old folks are slow to blu,
new things, and father and / didn'
know about this new burner. Abner'
wife would have kept it in her room
and let our eyes wear out with our oil
lamps. And the pictures did you NOTES
them? They're Jenny's she asked (.
hang them there because she didn'
want her room crowded. She wants
to share all her sunshine, else it ism
half sunshine to her"
Jenny did not return. and Mrs. Ben
ton soon entered the house.
Mother" l heard her say, ..let M,
get tea. just show me the table line,
you wish to use, and / think / can ar
range everything as you wish to hav
it."
After little consultation Mrs. Ben
ton returned.
ibid you hear that?" she asked
Jenny isn't satisfied just to help do tn
easy work; she wants to carry the bur
dens. I've never trusted my own girl
to do what Jenny does, and she brough
up with different ways too. I'm afrai,
| didn't bring up my girls right" re
peated Mrs, Benton. with sigh. The.
amt bit like Jenny"
mot so helpful?" l asked.
mot SO helpful and not SO thought
full" she replied. 1--WE carried thci
burdens until they expect me to carr,
them, and when | get too old to car
~ any more, l shall be a burden the.
won't know how to bear, because Nv
never taught EN-. It's pleasant to b
taken care of, " repeated Mrs. Benton.
A few years later again visited m
mothers friend, The iniirmities of az
had compelled her to lay aside many Q
her cares, but she scarcely realized tn
surrender, SO cheerfully had they bee
assumed by her sons wife.
Jenny takes pride in keeping ever,
thing just as I've kept it; SO pleasal
TO sit and look Oh, she said.
..And be taken care Of" / added.
Yes. it's pleasant to be taken car
Of" she repeated, looking fondly upo
her sons wife. And when we were alon
she told me Of Jenny's loving care, n
peating the words l remember so vel